Canaan

Pronounced KAY-nan, this Old Testament place name has a strong modern feel that blends in with on-trend choices like Carter, Colton, and Kayson, but also with Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Tobias. Associated in the Bible with "The Promised Land", it is also the name of one of Noah's grandsons.

The actual meaning of Canaan is disputed, with some scholars suggesting it simply means "lowland", while others believe the name refers to the "lowness and humbleness" that faith requires.

Canaan entered the US Top 1000 in 2015, peaked in 2016 when it reached #667, then fell back down the rankings, disappearing from the popularity charts in 2023. It is still given to nearly 200 babies each year however, suggesting that it could easily return to the Top 1000 in years to come.

Canaan is also given to girls, where it ranks #13520 in the US.

Pronounced KAY-nan.

As of October 2026, Canaan ranked #1044 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #671 in 2016.